MCA announces CEO appointment
6th March 2023
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has announced the appointment of a new chief executive officer (CEO), reports Paul Scott.
Virginia McVea, who was previously chief electoral officer of Northern Ireland, will assume her new role on 3 April, succeeding Brian Johnson, who retired last year.
The MCA says that Virginia McVea’s remit will include helping to support the UK’s transition to zero emission shipping by 2050, supporting regulation updates, encouraging the uptake of new technologies, and facilitating trials of new green innovations.
Maritime minister Baroness Vere said: “I would like to welcome and congratulate Virginia.
“She joins at a pivotal time for the agency as it faces both challenges and exciting opportunities, and I look forward to working with her to grow the UK flag, decarbonise the maritime sector and encourage greater investment in the UK.
“I am also very grateful to Damien Oliver for his work as interim chief executive officer, and to Brian Johnson for the wealth of expertise he brought to the agency during his tenure.”
MCA non-executive chairman Christopher Rodrigues said: “I am confident that Virginia has all the skills and qualities we need to build on the excellent work that Brian and the executive team has done over the four years of his tenure.”
Interim MCA CEO Damien Oliver said it had been the ‘privilege of his life’ to lead the organisation over the past several months.
“I am looking forward to welcoming Virginia and working together to provide a complete handover. It’s clear to me that this organisation will be in very safe hands under her leadership,” he said.
This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For more up-to-date and in-depth reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.30 here.
Sign up to Fishing News’ FREE e-newsletter here.
